[ That's encouragement and invitation, too. Root likes to think she knows how to read her darling well enough that she doesn't need to ask -- and wouldn't, lest she force Shaw to break out of the relaxation and surrender into mustering up some grandstanding. Like she'd told Charles, other people should probably have a talk about limits, but she truly feels they don't need to. That's a large part of why she's so intensely attracted to Shaw.

Their limits are mutually a few steps past where anyone else wants to go.

She pulls up and whispers, soft and caring, ] Poor little Sameen. Everyone is either scared of you or wants to take care of you, don't they?

But what you want is for someone to pry you open with a crowbar. [ Root curls her nails into one of the welts. Shaw has probably had enough by now, but-- one step farther feels so seductive... Root wants to push and push. ]